AAA Northeast Predicts Busy Weekend For Travel

trafficHYANNIS  – Get ready for a busy holiday weekend on the Cape.

AAA is projecting that over 40 million Americans will journey 50 miles from home this Independence Day, the most since 2007.

That’s a slight increase from the number of people who traveled last year.

Of the 41.9 million projected to travel, more than 2.1 million are expected to come from New England, with over 1.8 million traveling by car.

“This Independence Day, more people will get in their cars, board airplanes, and take buses, trains and cruise ships to celebrate our nation’s freedom with friends and family,” said AAA Northeast Senior Vice President of Public and Government Affairs, Lloyd P. Albert.

“Students all across the nation are also celebrating freedom from pencils and books, making this an ideal time for a family vacation. Independence Day is typically the busiest summer travel holiday for this reason, and more Americans are planning a holiday getaway than any year since 2007,” he said.

On the Cape, the roadways are expected to be busy this weekend, especially heading on and off Cape Cod over the Sagamore and Bourne Bridges.

Mary Maguire with AAA Northeast said people need to be aware of when and where those delays occur.

“Especially in terms of getting over the Bourne and Sagamore bridges, we always advise people to access their favorite media channel to get the latest traffic app to find out what’s going on, on those bridges,” said Maguire.

That information can be found easily, according to Maguire.

“The Army Corps of Engineers has a Facebook and Twitter feed as well that provides information on the bridges, so there are many different ways you can find out what the situation is,” said Maguire.

AAA Northeast says that rising income, driven by a strong employment market, is prompting more Americans to take a holiday trip this year.

Despite recent seasonal increases, gas prices remain well below year-ago levels, which has helped boost Americans’ disposable income.

“Although some consumers are using their recent savings on gas to pay down debt and save, overall, Americans are planning to travel in record numbers,” said Albert. “Independence Day gas prices are expected to be the lowest in at least five years, a welcome sign for the 35.5 million people planning a holiday road trip.”

Travelers will also encounter higher lodging rates and airfares this weekend according to AAA.

The average nightly stay in a two diamond hotel is six percent higher this year at $145, while three diamond hotels will cost nine percent more, averaging $195.

Average airfares for the top 40 domestic flight routes are six percent higher this Independence Day, climbing to $227.

AAA officials say they’re expecting to rescue nearly 36,000 motorists at the roadside this weekend, with the primary reasons being dead batteries, flat tires and lockouts.



CapeCod.com
737 West Main Street
Hyannis, MA 02601
Contact Us | Advertise Terms of Use 
Employment and EEO | Privacy